The Compact

The Compact is a versatile act with a wide range of styles in their repertoire. If you are having a casual, quiet cocktail hour or dinner event, we can play acoustically in the background, playing softer Folk, Jazz, and Roots music. The Duet consists of bass and acoustic guitar with a male and female voice. We can play quietly and always play to the energy of the room.

If you are having a more upbeat event where your guests want to to Rock or dance, we can bring people to their feet with the electric trio. We can cover Rock, Funk, and Blues music from the 60’s and 70’s, The Beatles, The Byrds, Stealer’s Wheel, Tom Petty, Sly and The Family Stone, etc. The trio consists of electric guitar, bass, and drums with male and female vocals. We always get people singing along and dancing.

The Compact is one of the most visible and highly regarded groups in New York’s Hudson Valley. Their signature sound grows from an intuitive, musical interplay and striking personality contrasts between long-time collaborators Erin Hobson (guitar) and multi-instrumentalist Steven W. Ross, whose main instrument is the bass.

Ross, a New York City transplant, has spent his life writing and playing, and learned about music production from Paul Rothschild (The Doors, Janis Joplin), a mentor who predicted he'd one day be a great bassist and producer. He met Hobson, a Dutchess County native and music educator with a background in Jazz Performance in 2008 and they've been creating and performing ever since, releasing music through their independent record label, Choking Chicken Records. 

Their style is categorically hard to pin down. Hobson’s guitar playing is tinged with elements of Jazz, Folk, and Rock. Ross’s bass-lines are rich and memorable, he’s like a percussionist and bassist all in one. Together these seemingly unlikely musical partners have a distinct feel, and each live show becomes a fusion of diverse genres, leaving audiences on their feet. The electric trio includes drummer Paul Rossman’s finesse and sense of rhythm, providing a big pocket for The Compact’s unique sound. 

The band performs regularly at every top music venue in New York’s Hudson Valley, as well as in and around New York City, and have headlined and opened for International acts in many genres. Tracks from their albums have played on radio stations regionally and nationally. "It's A Wash" from "1@AX" (one at a time) was voted Top 100 Songs of 2014 by listeners of 100.1FM WDST.

We have our own sound system and equipment to provide, if one can not be provided for us. We only ask that if an event is outdoors, we are given proper shelter from the elements in the case of inclement weather. Our equipment can not get wet. Proper shelter would be a tent or building structure and a stage elevated off the ground. We also need to be provided with electricity and extension cords, if the outlet isn’t close to where we are playing.